Millions of people suffer from bone and joint pain due to sudden muscle spasms at night or as they age. But very few people are aware of this pain at rest (rest pain). Although this name may seem trivial, it can be a sign of a serious health problem.
According to health experts, pain at rest, i.e. pain in the foot or toes that is felt even after walking or putting weight on the foot, is a special type of pain.
About one in 100 people may suffer from this type of pain at some point in their life. Although pain at rest can sometimes occur on its own or result from various foot diseases, it can also be a sign of chronic limb-threatening ischemia, formerly known as critical limb ischemia.
This condition is a very serious and end-stage condition of peripheral artery disease. Peripheral artery disease occurs when fat and plaque build up in the arteries, narrowing the blood vessels and limiting blood flow to the legs and feet.
Severe accumulation of plaque in CLTI greatly reduces the blood supply to the legs, feet, or toes. People who experience pain at rest due to CLTI may develop sores or ulcers that do not heal if not treated promptly. Apart from this, the death of body tissues and severe cases can lead to amputation of the leg or foot.
Because CLTI is caused by peripheral artery disease, prompt treatment is essential to avoid complications from PAD. These complications include life-threatening cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.
According to the Journal of Vascular Surgery, approximately 80 percent of patients presenting with pain at rest may die within 10 years of diagnosis.
One reason for this is that severe plaque buildup in the arteries of the legs is strongly associated with coronary artery occlusions throughout the body and complications of CLTI.
It is important to recognize the symptoms of pain at rest at an early stage, as timely diagnosis and treatment can enable prompt and effective medical or surgical intervention and reduce the risk of death.
The following five signs are very important in this regard.
Severe burning or burning pain in the feet, hair loss or thinning on the feet, shiny and unusually yellow or white skin on the feet, severe cramping or pain in the legs when walking, and purple or blue toes.
Some people may be at increased risk of pain at rest and poor blood supply due to lifestyle factors. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity and poor diet are factors that can contribute to severe blood loss to the legs and feet. While being physically active is very important for health even as you get older.